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WASHINGTON — Republicans and industry groups ramped up their opposition to a Democratic energy package ahead of today's vote in the House, while Democratic leaders faced the loss of some key votes from energy states.

House Republicans sent a letter to President Bush on Thursday, urging him to veto energy legislation that might come to his desk if it resembles a pair of bills House Democrats hope to push through today.

"The Democrats' energy legislation produces no energy," Republican leaders argued in a letter sent to the White House on Thursday, saying Democratic proposals would reverse efforts to increase "American-made energy."

"Since it will reduce the supply of American energy, the majority's legislation forces us to purchase more energy from overseas, deepening our dependence on unstable nations and the oil they export," the Republicans wrote.

In response, Nadeam Elshami, a spokesman for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said: "A Republican party that is running on empty when it comes to solving America's problems can waste their energy fighting a bill that will put us on the road to energy independence or they can work with Democrats to get this critical legislation passed and to the president's desk for his signature."

The Democrats' proposal aims to reduce the nation's dependence on foreign oil through a series of measures to conserve energy and boost use of renewable energy sources.

Efficiency standards

The bill includes new efficiency standards for home appliances; proposals for more energy-efficient lighting; expanded use of ethanol; and tax incentives for consumers to buy more fuel-efficient hybrid cars.

Unlike the energy bill passed by the Senate in June, the House package will not include language to raise fuel mileage requirements for cars, pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles. House Democrats are deeply divided on that issue.

But in a move that has heartened environmentalists, Rep. Tom Udall, D-N.M., plans to push an amendment requiring that utilities generate at least 15 percent of their electricity from renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power by 2020.

The Democrats' package also includes a tax bill that would slap the oil companies with $16 billion in new taxes.

Republican concerns about the House bill are the mirror image of Democrats' critiques of the energy proposals Republicans authored when they controlled the House. Democrats had long argued GOP measures focused too heavily on oil and gas drilling and not enough on conservation.

Some Democrats dismayed

But some Democrats from energy states are also unhappy with the package.

Rep. Gene Green, D-Houston, a leader of a group of about two dozen lawmakers known as "Hydrocarbon Democrats," has been scrambling to negotiate changes in the package.

Green is particularly concerned about the renewable electricity standard.

Texas, despite all the windmills in the state, could perhaps generate 5 percent of its electricity from renewables, and more likely only about 3 percent, Green said.

He fears a 15 percent mandate could raise electric bills.

Green said Thursday he anticipates he will have to vote against the bill. How many other energy state Democrats will oppose it remained unclear Thursday.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce entered the fray Thursday, sending out letters to House members arguing the package's tax provisions amount to a modern-day version of the 1980s windfall profits tax on the oil industry.